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Georgian Prime Minister Eyes Closer Communication Links With Moscow
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Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze announced government plans to strengthen ties with Russia across multiple sectors, according to Interfax.
The Prime Minister also noted that the development of dialogue between the Georgian and Russian sides is facilitated by the Georgian government’s appointment of special representative Giorgi Zurabashvili on October 21.
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“Our goal, naturally, is to strengthen our channels of communication. We are working in various directions, including trade and economic ties, as well as humanitarian issues,” stated the politician, Interfax reported.
According to Kobakhidze, Zurabashvili has already begun “effective” work in this direction. The Prime Minister did not specify the exact nature of the special representative's activities.
As reported by United24 Media, the ruling Georgian Dream party faced harsh international backlash after overriding the president's veto to pass a controversial "foreign agent law," which mirrored Moscow's 2012 autocratic measures.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the government's approach by stating they had "sustained peace within our nation over the past two years, despite facing existential threats," safeguarding sovereignty.
However, officials from the European Union and the United States warned that the ruling majority jeopardized Georgia's European future and ignored human rights concerns, as Russia continues to occupy 20% of Georgian territory following its 2008 full-scale invasion.
Beyond the diplomatic rift, these geopolitical tensions and Moscow’s ongoing war effort have directly reshaped everyday life in the region. In late summer 2026, Russian demand for rental housing rose sharply in Georgia, Serbia, and Armenia driven by circulating rumors of a potential new mobilization wave in Russia.
Real estate agents in cities like Tbilisi, Yerevan, Belgrade, and Novi Sad reported a sudden surge in inquiries, primarily from young people seeking short-term rentals under tight budgets.
Consequently, apartment availability shrank rapidly, and monthly rental prices began to climb by $50 to $100 in high-demand areas. In contrast, realtors in Kazakhstan observed no comparable influx of Russian renters during the same period.
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